Practice English Reading Exercises for A2 – Consumer Habits & Shopping Situations
Reading 1
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Who originally went to the market to get a gift?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
2 Who gave the seller less cash than they first asked for?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
3 Who has a t-shirt with a picture of the musicians on it?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
4 Who chose a t-shirt that does not fit perfectly?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
5 Who discovered their t-shirt under a pile of other things?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
6 Who got the money for the t-shirt from a relative?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
7 Who bought a t-shirt that needed cleaning?
(A) Leo (B) Sam (C) Eli
Finding a Rare Band T-Shirt
Leo
I love weekend markets! Last Sunday, my grandfather handed me some notes to spend, so I went looking for music stuff. I wasn’t searching for a present for anyone, just something nice for myself. At one stall, I looked at the bottom of a large box full of old winter coats and couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a shirt from my favourite rock group! It has the faces of the singer and guitarist on the front. It was very cheap, so I didn’t try to get a better price. It was a lucky day!
Sam
Finding my favourite pop group’s shirt at the flea market was amazing. I used my own pocket money because I really wanted it. When I asked how much it was, the man wanted fifteen pounds. I said I only had ten, and he actually accepted it! I was so happy to keep some of my cash. The only problem is that the shirt is much too large for my body. It falls down to my knees! But I don’t care because it looks completely fresh and unworn, and I wear it around the house all the time.
Eli
I went to the busy flea market because I wanted to find a nice present for my brother’s birthday. While I was walking around, I saw an amazing 1990s rock shirt hanging right at the front of a stall. It just has the name of the tour in huge red letters, no people on it. I knew I had to buy it for myself instead! It was covered in dust and had some brown spots on it, so I immediately put it in the washing machine when I got home. Now it looks absolutely amazing!
ANSWER KEY
1 C 2 B 3 A 4 B 5 A 6 A 7 C
Reading 2
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Which person says their dad paid a lot of money for the suit?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
2 Which person mentions that their dad chose a dark colour?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
3 Which person used the internet to find clothes for their dad?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
4 Which person says their dad’s suit was not the correct size at first?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
5 Which person went to a large shop with their dad?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
6 Which person bought an extra item to wear with the suit?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
7 Which person helped their dad prepare the day before the meeting?
(A) Jake (B) Sophie (C) Tariq
Finding the Perfect Interview Suit
Jake
My dad had a very important meeting for a new job. He didn’t want to use his laptop to find clothes because he wanted to try things on first. So, we visited a huge clothes shop with many floors in the city centre. He put on a light grey jacket, and it was exactly the right shape for his body straight away. The outfit cost a huge amount of cash, but he looked fantastic. He already had smart black shoes and a nice watch at home, so we didn’t get him anything else to wear.
Sophie
My father hasn’t bought business clothes for a long time. We found a great little shop near our house. The things there were actually quite cheap! He wanted to look smart for his interview, so he picked out a deep navy blue jacket. However, the trousers that came with it were much too long for his legs. The shop worker gave us a shorter pair, which was much better. The evening before he went to meet the manager, I helped him get his shirt ready so he didn’t have to worry in the morning.
Tariq
My dad works long hours, so we didn’t have time to walk around big shops. Instead, we sat on the sofa and looked at a few websites until we ordered a nice suit to come by post. When it arrived, it fit perfectly. Because his old work clothes looked a bit boring, we also got a beautiful new tie to go with the jacket. On the actual morning of his big interview, I helped him clean his shoes and brush his hair. He felt very happy and ready to answer all their questions!
ANSWER KEY
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 B 5 A 6 C 7 B
Reading 3
For each question, choose the correct answer.
1 Which person pays to change the size of their old clothes?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
2 Which person had to buy different clothes for their job?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
3 Which person says it is difficult to find trousers that fit?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
4 Which person gave their old clothes to another person?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
5 Which person is sad because they cannot wear their favourite clothes?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
6 Which person gets clothes made by a member of their family?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
7 Which person uses the internet to shop for clothes?
(A) Leo (B) Maya (C) Sam
Shopping for clothes after your body changes
Leo
I recently started eating more and I am much heavier now. Shopping is not fun. I work in a bank, and my manager told me I needed larger things to wear because my old ones were too tight. I had to spend a weekend buying bigger business shirts. I also have a beautiful jacket in my bedroom. I really loved it, but it doesn’t close anymore. It makes me unhappy that I can’t put it on. I looked on my computer for a similar one, but they cost too much.
Maya
Last year, I lost ten kilos because I started eating healthy food. I feel great, but my old dresses are too big. I didn’t want to put them in the bin, so I give them to a woman who changes them to match my new shape. I spend a lot of cash doing this! I had some large sweaters that were impossible to change, so I gave them to my cousin. She was very happy! I hate walking around busy shopping streets, so I prefer ordering new T-shirts from my laptop.
Sam
I cycle and run every day, so my body has changed. I haven’t gained fat, but my legs are much bigger now. The biggest problem is buying jeans. The top part is always fine, but I cannot pull them up over my knees! I am a student, so I don’t have money to pay a shop to fix my things. Luckily, my grandmother is amazing at making clothes. I buy large items from the store, and she cuts and sews them so they look perfect on me.
ANSWER KEY
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 A 6 C 7 B